Kitchen cabinets



June 14, 1966 N. LEVENBERG 3,256,053

KITCHEN CABINETS Grginal Filed Jan. 13, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet l 1f f F39/ /6 0 4 /?f L E June 14, 1966 N. LEVENBERG KITCHEN CABINETS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Drginal Filed Jan. 13, 1961 Jun'e 14, 1966 N. LEVENBERG KITCHEN CABINETS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Jan. l5 A1961 United States Patent() 3,256,053 KITCHEN CABINETS Nat Levenberg, 2 Windsor Place, Lynnbrook, N.Y. Original application Jan. 13, 1961, Ser. No. 82,435, now Patent No. 3,149,587, dated Sept. 22, 1964. Divided and this application June 29, 1964, Ser. No. 386,808 2 Claims. (Cl. S12-140.1)

This application is a ldivision of Serial No. 82,435, filed January 13, 1961, now Patent No. 3,149,587, granted September 22, 1964.

This invention relates generally to cabinets and more particularly to improved kitchen cabinet construction, al-

' though these improvements may be used in other cabinetry as well.

A large proportion of kitchen cabinets are stored and shipped Iin a set up condition, necessitating large 'storage space .and expensive transportation, thereby curtailing the distribution area. It is, therefore, among the objects of the present invention to provide an improved knockeddown construction resulting in small storage space requirements and low cost shipping.

Another object is to provide a construction which is easily set up and installed, needing only a screw driver.

Another object of this invention is to provide a lightweight Ibut strong construction which reduces cost in a number of ways, including using surrounding building suryfaces such as walls and ceilings together with low cost extrusions and panels.

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages will more fully appear in the progress of this disclosure and be pointed out in the l.appended claims.

In the drawings, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of wall and base cabinets of an embodiment of the invention.

yFIGUR-E 2 is a vertical sectional view.

yFIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective View showing hinge and door connection and adjacent structure.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional View as seen from the plane 4 4 on FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4A is a fragmentary perspective view of an upper tenon member.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional View as seen from the plane 5--5 on FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of an end panel for a base cabinet partially assembled (6--6 on FIGURE FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary elevational view, taken from inside a wall cabinet, a rear view seen from the left of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View of a wall cabinet.

yFIGURE 9 is a reduced fragmentary horizontal section, seen from the plane 9--9 on FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of an end panel.

FIGURE l1 is a fragmentary vertical elevational view of a rear support for a drawer guide in a base cabinet.

FIGURE 12 Iis a front elevational view as seen from the plane l1212 on FIGURE l1.

FIGURE13 is a fragmentary perspective view of a wall cabinet rear vertical support element and shelf support member.

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary elevational view, taken from inside a 'base cabinet looking forward, as seen from the plane 14-14 on FIGURE l5.

FIGURE 15 is a fragmentary vertical section of the lCe FIGURE 17 is a fragmentary elevational view see from the plane 17 17 on FIGURE 16.

In general, the invention contemplates, in someof its major aspects, the elimination of the top and rear walls of the wall cabinets, the rear and bottom walls of the base cabinets, and the end walls of both cabinets where they abut an adjoining room wall. Furthermore, the vertical frame elements of the wall and base cabinets are suspended or supported by.interlocking vertical elements which are horizontally adjustable in position so that doors and drawers may be selected to suit the total horizontal space andthe choice of the user. In addition, a minimum of part types, plus certain interchangeability, affords maximum flexibility to accommodate for any installation but with low inventory requirements. This novel structure allows selection of exposed decorative surface panels, too.

Turning to an upper or wall cabinet assembly, generally indicated by reference character 11, this may comprise broadly: intermediate rear vertical support element 14; upper front horizontal support element 16; upper front vertical support element 18; intermediate front horizontal support element 20; intermediate front Vertical support element 22; lower front horizontal support element 23; top sliding doors 24; intermediate hinged door 26; top shelf 28; intermediate shelves 30; and end walls 32.

The intermediate rear vertical support element 14 (FIGURE 13) is preferably an extrusion composed, for example, of aluminum or synthetic resin and is generally T-shaped in cross section with a base 34, central llange 36, edge beads 37, the flange 36 being provided with a vertical row of holes 38 adapted to receive shelf support members 40. The members 40 are generally U-shaped but of irregular configuration, best seen in FIGURE 13, and including a cross piece 41 with a central crimp 42, legs 43 and feet 44. The crimp 42 is engaged by the edge of a hole 38 when the member 40 is half passed through and a twisting motion snaps the member 40 into fixed position where the two horizontal L-shaped portions formed by the cross piece 41 and the legs 43 serve to support the rear corners of the horizontally disposed shelves 30. The shelves 30 may be of a vwidth sufllcient to extend between opposite central flanges 36 or bigger shelves may be used, notched to pass said flange 36. The

top shelf 28 at the rear thereof rests on the upper ends.

45 of the support elements 14, while the lower ends of the elements 14 extend down only far enough to hold the lowest member 40 to support the lowest shelf 30. The base 34 is connected to the building wall 47 in any suitable manner, as by cement, masonry nails, screws 15 (FIGURE 4), or the like. p

The upper front horizontal support element 16 is preferably a metal or plastic extrusion, the cross sectional configuration of which is best seen in FIGURE 8. The base 48 is secured to the ceiling 49 by cement 50 and screws 51 for which the 4base 48 is suitably perforated. Depending from the base 48 are a plurality of ilanges 52, 53 and 54. The Vfront flange 52 serves as 4a fascia and between it and the middle flange 53 is formed a channel wherein-the upper edges of the sliding top doors 24 ride. Rear flange 54 includes a horizontally offset portion S5 which provides Vertical support for upper connector' 56 (which connects to the upper end of element 18) which is slidably (horizontally) keyed to the flanges 53 and 54, but such movement is prevented after assembly because when the parts are straightened to the position shown in FIGURE 8 a wedging action takes place. Rearward twisting movement is prevented by the head 57 butting against the base 48; while forward twisting movement is prevented by the portion of the connector 56 which contacts the portion 55 'and adjacent surfaces and the portion 58 which contacts the lower edge of ange 53. It should be noted that the reinforcing portion 63 of connector 56 prevents rearward bending or collapse of flange portion 55, the direction in which it could go in the case of overload, so that vertical support load is limited by tensile strength of web 64. Forward twisting7 is also prevented by the upper end 59 of element 18 butting the lower edge of flange 52.

The lower portion of connector 56 has a dovetail groove 60, a rounded lower portion 61, and a sloping rear portion 62, and the upper end 59 of element 18 is correspondingly cut out so that element 18 is maintained vertically against front or rear movement.

The intermediate front horizontal support element 20 is preferably a metal or plastic extrusion, best seen in FIG- URE 8. The base 65 has, projecting upward, three anges 66, 67 and 68, and a downward ange 69. The front flange 66 and middle flange 67 form a channel for the lower edges of doors 24. Rear flange 68 has a horizontal offset portion 70 which provides vertical support for lower connector 71 (which connects to the lower end of element 18), slidably (horizontally) keyed to anges 67 and 68, but horizontal movement is prevented after assembly by the weight of the parts and contents of the cabinet and a wedging takes place when the parts are straightened to the position shown in FIGURE 8. Relative rearward twisting movement of rounded portion 72 is prevented by the head 74 butting against base 65 and adjacent surfaces, while relative forward twisting movement of portion 72 is prevented at olset portion 70 and the upper edge of ilange 67.

The vupper portion of connector 71 has a dovetail groove 73 and a sloping rear portion 75, and the lower end 76 of element 18 is correspondingly cut out and is thus securely held in place. Overloading would tend to bend ange 68 rearward but it is supported against this by the head 74.

The upper front vertical support elements 16 are T- shaped in cross section and preferably identical to the rear ones 14 (FIGURE 13) having front bases 77 and central flanges 78, and their height is determined by the height of sliding doors 24.

The downward flange 69 on element 20 forms the upper margin of the hinged door enclosed portion of the Wall cabinets 11 and the intermediate front vertical support elements 22 are suspended therefrom by combination connector hinges 80. Where the particular element 22 lies horizontally between doors 26 at their hinged edges a double unit such as that shown in FIGURE 3 is utilized, and where only one hinged edge is present (as at the end vertical edge of a cabinet) a modified unit, containing only one hinge, is utilized (compare lower portion of FIGURE l).

The connector hinge 80 has a body 81, to the upper surface at the front portion of which are pivotally connected the relatively movable L-shaped hinge members 83 and 84. The relatively free ends of members 83 and 84 are in the form of fingers with threaded holes (substantially identical with the members 184 and 183 on FIG- URE 3) which are inserted in correspondingly positioned holes in the respective doors 26. At the rear edge of the body 81 there are a pair of right-angle bent ears 85 and 86 which have pins 87 and 88. The flange 69 and the support elements 22 are provided with aligned slots, which are of sucient size to vallow passage of the ears 85 and 86 therethrough in a curving direction through approximately 90 until the pins 87 and 88 may be received by correspondingly sized and positioned receptacles 89. There is enough room and permissible movement for this operation when the hinge members 83 and 84 are not yet engaged by the doors. After such engagement, however, the connector hinges 80 are substantially stationary with respect to the ilange 69 and element 22.

The length of elements 22 is substantially equal to the height of doors 26, and at the lower ends 90 of elements 22 are connected to the lower front horizontal support 23 (except for the inverted position of the combination connector hinges a) in a manner like that just described in connection Withthe hinges 80. The support 23 is preferably L-shaped in section, and concealed by the closed doors 26, and lies below the lowermost shelf 30. Elements 22 are perforated at 38a to correspond with elements 14, and shelf support members 40 carry the front corners of shelves 30.

When the upper wall cabinet lies between two opposed substantially parallel building walls, the parts can be sized horizontally so that no cabinet end walls 32 are required. When this is not the case end walls 32 are utilized. This structure is shown in FIGURES l, 4, 4A, 8, 9 and 10. The end walls 32 are substantially identical, being leftand right-hand counterparts, the corresponding parts having the same reference characters. End walls 32 have an outer decorative panel 91 held in place by edge frame members 9a 93, 94 and 95, of irregular section, best seen in FIGURE l0, so that, as mitered, a peripheral inwardly opening channel 96 is formed with inner grooved anges 92b-95b. Members 92-95 have inwardly directed right angle anges 92a-95a, respectively, which are connected to or associated with adjoining parts. Flange 94a may lie forward of base 34 on element 14 and be held by screws 15 (FIGURE 4) which would normally hold base 34 in place. Next frame members 92 and 95 are put into place in vertical plane alignment with member 44. The grooves 97 in grooved flanges 94b and 95b line up at right angles with the groove 97 in flange 9217, and the upper right angle tenon membersr98 are put into place into said grooves. Altogether there are four tenon members for each endl wall 32. The upper two (FIGURES 4A and 10) have each leg semicircular in cross section with integral iixed dowels 99, and they t ush into grooves 97, the dowels penetrating correspondingly positioned holes in said grooves.

Next, the panel 91 is slid into channel 96 in an upward direction and as soon as tenon members 98 are covered they can no longer be removed, so that the panel 91 locks frame members 92 to members 95 and 94. The lower two tenon members 98a have in their horizontal legs permanently secured dowels which engage holes in the groove of ange 93h, but the vertical legs have holes. Now the member 93 is moved vertically up into position so that its channel -96 engages the remaining edge of panel 91 and the vertical legs of tenon members 98a fit into the grooves in flanges 94b and 95b (FIGURE 4). Finally the pins 101 are passed through the aligned holes in the grooves 97 `in flanges 94b and 95b which locks the parts together. The pins 101 are manipulated inside the cabinet. Now necessary combination connector 4hinges 80 and 80a are put into place `securing ange 95a.

Additional support may be given the flange 92a by screws 102, ange `92a being cut back to allow clearance for the base 48 of element 16. A stop 103 (FIG. 9) may close the end of the channel within which the sliding doors 26 are located to limit their travel.

Turning to the base cabinet assembly, generally indicated by reference character 111, this may comprise broadly: a counter top 112; upper rear horizontal support element 113; lower rear vertical support element 114; upper front horizontal support element 11-6; front vertical support element 122; intermediate -front horizontal support element lower front horizontal support element 123; drawers 124; hinged doors 126; drawer guides 128; shelves 130; and end walls 132.

The upper rear horizontal support element 113 is preferably an extrusion extending substantially the full length of the base cabinet. It is composed, for example, of aluminum or synthetic resin andis of irregular contiguration, best seen in FIGURE 16. The base 127 may be secured to wall 147 by adhesive cement and screws 115, and has a forward upper angular lip 117 and a lower lip 119. The lip 119 forms a channel along which connectors 121 may be placed in selected positions. The lip 117 diverges for-ward from the wall 147 so that even when the wall 147 is not flat the counter top rear support 110 may be adequately engaged. The connectors 121 need not be very wide, for example 11/2 inch, and they serve to carry upper ends of the elements 114 which are T-shaped in cross section.

The element 114 includes a base 134 and a central ange 136. Flange 136 is provided with a series of spaced holes 138 to receive shelf support members 140 which are identical with the members 40 (FIGURE 13), while base 134 has edge beads 137 to coact with members 140. Elements 114 at the lower ends 146 thereof rest on the oor 200, while at the upper ends a portion of central flange 136 is removed and the remaining base 134 is -bent to form a hook 145 which engages into connector 121.

Connector 121 is used where a vertical element 114 will be used to support the rear corners of shelves 130 by members 140 thereon. In those locations lalong base cabinet 111 where the rear ends of drawer guides 125 are supported, structure shown in FIGURES 11 and-12 is used. Here the upper end of the drawer supports 128 are hooked onto the lower lip 119 while the forwardly extending horizontal brackets 129 are at the same level as the element 120.

It is to be noted thatthe engagement of theconnectors 121 and the rear drawer guide supports 128 with the Vlip 119 affords a high degree of flexibility and adjustment while at the same time providing a rigid structure. The connectors 121 and supports 128 are put in place with a twisting motion which rst hooks them onto the lip 119 and then when the connectors 121 and the suppors 128 are swung down -into .a vertical position they become rigidly self-clamped to a solid connection in which they are fixed against movement longitudinally of the lip 119.

Since the structure of the upper portions of connectors -121 and supports 128 is substantially identical, descrip- Ytion of one will Adescribe the other as well. Connector 121 has a downwardly ,directed tongue 131 which has iirst land second opposed protuberances which are vertically offset (FIGURE 16), the rst or rear protuberance being lower than Vthe second or front one. The distance between the crowns of the two protuberances (-horizontally front to rear) is slightly greater than the width of the trough formed between Ithe lip 119 and the base 127. The inner surface of the lip 119 adjoining the upper edge thereof is provided with a third rearwardly extending protuberance. When canted las shown in the dot-dash lines on. FIGURE 16, the effective transverse distance between first and second protuberances is substantially equal to the width of said trough at its narrowest part (at the level of the third protuberance). This allows the connector 121 to be slidably lowered into said trough. When the'connector ismoved to its vertical position, a wedging action occurs in the trough so that sliding along the horizontal element 113 is prevented. Furthermore, any tendency of the connector 121 to rise is prevented by the third protuberance which is on the inner surfaces of lip 119. As seen in FIG. 16, hook 145 is angularly insertable into connector 121 (dot-dash lines) but is retained (full lines) Ibecause rearward movement past vertical of element 114 is prevented by wall 147.

, The upper front horizontal support element 116 is preferably an extrusion and includes a at top flange 148 which is secured to the under surface of the counter top 112 by cement or screws 151. The front ange 152 is disposed at the exact distance from wall 147 to determine the depth of the base cabinet. The connecting portion 153 is approximately a half circle so that the rounded hook 179 formed in the central ange 178 of element 122 may rst be engaged by rotating the same clockwise (as viewed in FIGURE about portion 153 and then rotating the hook 179 in a counterclockwise direction until the curved lock member 174 is engaged under the portion 152. The upper edge 173 butting against the cal soa detailed description of one will suffice for all.

Clip element 104 is preferably formed of resilient sheet material such as spring steel, aluminum alloy or the like, and comprises a body 111 having a pair of openings which align with corresponding openings in the base 177 and through which the ears 185 and 186 of the combination connector hinge 180 pass during assembly. Clip element 104 lhas a pair of upper vertical clip members 106 and lower clip members 107 which are adapted to engage, in snap fashion, the outer vertical edges of Ithe base 177 and the beads 137. Clip element 104 also has upper horizontal clip members 108 and lower horizontal clip members 109. The members 108 snap on to engage the upper horizontal flange of the element 120 while members 109 'snap on to engage the lower vertical flange of .the element 120. Clip element 105 is put on in an inverted position (see lower portion of FIGURE 15 With the clip elements 104 and 105 in place, the installation of the combination connector hinges 180a is a simple procedure, substantially identical with that described above with reference to the combination connector hinges 80, the insertion of pins 187 and 188 into aligned-holes in the elements 120 and 123 and the base'177, and the placing of the .doors 126 secures the parts in operating positions. The placing ofvthe doors 126l is illustrated in FIGURE 3, the doors being finally secured by the screws y133 which engage the door and the threaded holes 135.

It may also be noted that by virtue of the construction illustrated in FIGURE 3, two swingable doors may be hung in hinge fashion from a single upright andthere need be Ano cabinet lateral walls at that area. 4This gives the user considerable freedom of use because of no compartmenting, although where desired vertical dividers may be secured between the central anges on the T-shaped opposed (front and rear) uprights.

The same considerations apply .to the base cabinets with regard to the end walls 132, so that the structure previously described with reference to the end Walls 32 is substantially equally applicable, except that the edge frame member 193 is inserted from the front of the base cabinet. Certain of the parts corresponding to the equivalent upper Wall cabinet structure, and illustrated in FIGURES l, 5 and 6, are given the same reference characters with the prefixl 1.

Installation of the'base cabinets is preferably accomplished by first connecting element 113, and the requisite number and positioning of rear elements 114, to wall 147., Next the requisite guide supports 128 are hooked on. The lateral extent of the'horizontal support element 113 is sufficient so that the lower lip 119 supports both drawer guide supports 128 (FIG. 11) and connectors 121 (FIG. 16). The necessary shelf supports 140 may be connected to elements 1-14. Since the upper rear horizontalsupport element 113 serves as a hangar bar, it will not normally be necessary to attach theA base 134 to the wall 47.

' 104 and 105.

Following this, additional elements 122 are installed as required by catching the hooks 179 on the portions 153 with the elements 122 rearwardly canted and they are then swung forward until vertical. The remaining cross junctures between front upright elements 122 and horizontal elements 120 and 123 may be connected by clip elements -104 and 105, or they may be omitted.

Thus, it wi-ll be seen that the clip elements 104 and 105 strengthen the interconnections between the horizontal elements `120 .and 123 and the vertical element 122 to which they are attached. Furthermore, they maintain the respective orifices in alignment so that when the combination connector hinges 80 and 180 are put in place, they quickly and easily slide into the proper position. It is, however, possible to obtain a connection without the clip elements by temporarily aligning the parts as the elements 180 and 80 are put into position.

With the framework of the base cabinet thus set up, it becomes a matter of choice, in some respects, as to the sequence in which the remaining parts are put in place. For example, the drawer guides 125 may n'ow be engaged at that rear end on the brackets v129. This connection may be made by a dowel relationship, or a hook and orifice, or nut and bolt, or adhesive. The forwardmost portions of the drawer guides 125 may then be suitably connected to the horizontal elements 120 in a similar manner. This structure is illustrated in dot-dash lines at the upper portions of FIGURES 14 and 15. Following this, the drawers 124 may be put into place upon the drawer guides 125.

Now the front shelf support members 140 are put in place at the same Ilevel as the rear ones previously installed, and the shelves 130 may be dropped into place.

While I have shown the work top 112, as plain, it will be obvious that where desired, a sink may be incorporated, or built in cook tops or range units.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art to which the present invention relates.

I claim:

1. In a cabinet construction, including a counter top, forming an upper wall cooperating with at least one vertical Wall and floor of a room to form an enclosure extending from said last-mentioned wall, the improvement comprising: an upper rear horizontal element of elongated conguration, said horizontal element including a base having means for xedly engaging said vertical wall of a room, an vupper angular lip extending at an angle with respect to said base and supporting said counter top, a lower lip forming an upper extending groove, said lower lip extending downwardly from said base; at least one connector having `a downwardly directed tongue engageable within said groove in said horizontal element, said connector defining an opening at a lower end thereof; and a lower rear vertical support element having a lower end resting upon said floor, including a base and a centrally disposed flange, said base having hooked means engageable with said connector.

2. In a cabinet construction, including a counter top forming an upper wall and cooperating with at least one vertical wall and floor of a room to form an enclosure extending from said last-mentioned vertical wall, the improvement comprising: an upper rear horizontal element of elongated configuration, said horizontal element including a base having means fxedly engaging said vertical wall of said room, an upper angular lip extending at an angle with respect to said base and supporting said counter top, a lower lip extending downwardly from said base and forming an upwardly extending groove; at least one connector having a downwardly extending tongue engageable within said groove in said horizontal element, there being cooperating protuberances on said horizontal element and said upper angular lip for preventing vertical relative movement between said connector and said horizontal element, said connector defining an opening at a lower end thereof; a lower rear vertical support element having a lower end resting upon said iloor and including a base and a vertically disposed flange, said base having hook means engageable within said opening in said connector, said flange having horizontally disposed shelf supporting means thereon.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,156,025 4/ 1939 Paul 248-223 X 2,176,913 10/1939 Mandel 312-330 2,501,147 3/1950 Tolan 248-232 X 2,572,081 lO/ 1951 Wallance 312-330 2,682,383 6/1954 Horwitz 248-233 X 2,687,867 8/1954 Wolar 248-339 X 2,733,887 2./1956 Schmidt.

3,017,972 1/1962l Van Rensselaer 189-36 3,055,462 9/1962 Steele 189-36 3,071,218 1/1963 Goettl 189-36 3,110,534 11/1963 Nelson 312-330 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, FRANK B. SHERRY, Examiners.

A. FRANKEL, F. DOMOTOR, Assistant Examiners. 

1. IN A CABINET CONSTRUCTION, INCLUDING A COUNTER TOP, FORMING AN UPPER WALL COOPERATING WITH AT LEAST ONE VERTICAL WALL AND FLOOR OF A ROOM TO FORM AN ENCLOSURE EXTENIDNG FROM SAID LAST-MENTIONED WALL, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: AN UPPER REAR HORIZONTAL ELEMENT OF ELONGATED CONFIGURATION, SAID HORIZONTAL ELEMENT INCLUDING A BASE HAVING MEANS FOR FIXEDLY ENGAGING SAID VERTICAL WALL OF A ROOM, AN UPPER ANGULAR LIP EXTENDING AT AN ANGLE WITH RESPECT TO SAID BASE AND SUPPORTING SAID COUNTER TOP, A LOWER LIP FORMING AN UPPER EXTENDING GROOVE, SAID LOWER LIP EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID BASE; AT LEAST ONE CONNECTOR HAVING A DOWNWARDLY DIRECTED TONGUE ENGAGEABLE WITHIN SAID GROOVE IN SAID HORIZONTAL ELEMENT, SAID CONNECTOR DEFINING AN OPENING AT A LOWER END THEREOF; AND A LOWER REAR VERTICAL SUPPORT ELEMENT HAVING A LOWER END RESTING UPON SAID FLOOR, INCLUDING A BASE AND A CENTRALLY DISPOSED FLANGE, SAID BASE HAVING HOOKED MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID CONNECTOR. 